(I get what your saying about getting ideas faster than you can create them.)
(There's been something I wanted to do in this thread for a long while that would give everyone a role to play, but I haven't had the time to do it properly.)
(I'm off for the next week, so I'll see what I can do.)
(In the meantime, I wrote this…this)
"I believe we have lost five currency tokens, Number 56."
"Indeed. I believe this requires a negative response, Number 82."
The machines stood where they normally did when they watched the fights.
They liked this spot. It was most wonderfully wondrous.
They could study the wonderful movements of the combatants. They could hear the wonderful sound they made as blows were swung and landed. They could see the wonderful way in which bone snapped and cuts severed limbs.
It was so wonderfully informative.
Yes.
"It is curious as to why we continue to pay for their potential victory, Number 56."
"I believe it is customary to pay for the…Under…Dog, Number 82."
"I see, Number 56, I see."
The machines also felt this was a most wonderful spot as it let them look up at the crowd.
Oh, they so adored the looks on the faces of their fellow audience members.
So happy.
So excited.
So thrilled that it was not them.
They knew this face well.
Yes.
"I still argue that they are the true victors in these contests, Number 56."
"Indeed, they fight although they know that loss is always inevitable, Number 82."
"I find this fact most curious, since this seems to be a contest of strength, Number 56."
Ah yes, strength.
That seemed to be a most pressing concern amongst the inhabitants here.
They approached them with offers of currency tokens to make the small ones big.
They did not understand why.
They were quite happy to do it for fun.
Fun!
That was a concept that they had learned here.
The performance of actions for no particular reason than to pass time in an amicable manner.
They liked fun.
Yes.
"I believe we need to attend to physical studies, Number 56."
"Lead on, Number 82, lead on."
The machines made their way through the lower depths of the fortress.
They like the denizens of this place.
They always gave them such wide smiles before excitedly running off to do whatever duty they had to do. Some even giggled at the sight of them.
Happy. Happy. Happy.
A big one had brought a small one for them to make big.
A bag of currency tokens was placed on one of the work surfaces.
They do not know why.
"I wish for you to carry out the same…procedure as last time…Outsiders."
"Do you believe this one is sure, Number 56?"
"We could make it gain access to free movement of the Z axis, Number 82?"
"Perhaps an energy manipulator powered by it's natural power source, Number 56?"
"No…no, thank you. Just improved physical attributes…please."
The machines began as they always did, with the removal of the muscle fibre coverings.
The small one begins making loud noises like they normally did.
They took this opportunity to widen the vocal cords.
They were told the effects were undignified if they did not.
They carefully unravelled the muscle fibres and spread them across the operating table.
They then firmly tugged the supporting beams out of place.
The small one was making a most unagreeable level of noise now.
The big one was wearing the face that they saw it wear whilst watching the arena fights.
They then firmly reinserted longer supporting beams into place.
They carefully re-ravelled the muscle fibres and tightened them across the new frame.
The machines finish as they always did, stitching a new muscle fibre covering across the big one's body.
"Ah, another successful operation doctors."
"Are we doctors, Number 56?"
"I thought we were mechanics, Number 82?"
"Perhaps we are both, Number 56?"
"Perhaps we are neither, Number 82?"
"…of course. Well, until your services are required again."
The big one left with the big one whimpering quietly to itself.
Their brothers would probably not approve of this.
Brotherhood!
That was another thing they had learned here.
They remarked on how wondrous it was to have so many people they could relate to and rely on for support of many kinds.
Strange, they thought, for such a concept to be championed so vigorously here in word, but rarely seen in deed.
They missed their brothers.
They would often join in with their…fun…and they made much less noise than the small ones did.
Most agreeable.
Yes.
"Do you think return will be possible soon, Number 56?"
"I doubt it, Number 82. I doubt it."
"You think they still await for the dissipation of the rake, Number 56?"
"Indeed, Number 82. Indeed."
"Curious, it doesn't seem to bother them the rest of the year, Number 56."
"There are many things people do that are strange, Number 82."
"Indeed, Number 56, Indeed."
They heard a rumbling from above which indicated that the competitors had been reassembled and the next match was imminent.
The machines made their way up to the arena and returned to their most wonderfully wondrous spot.
They threw their customary five currency tokens into the pit below where they made sharp clinking sounds when they landed.
They were excited to see if the strong ones would win this time.
They wouldn't.
But it would be simply wonderful if they did.
Yes.